Four picks later, the Ravens chose safety Matt Elam as the replacement to the great Ed Reed, who signed with the Texans. Another safety, Jonathan Cyprien, went to the Jaguars to open the second round.

The Broncos retained safeties Mike Adams and Rahim Moore, who had all of one interception in 34 games last year, playoffs included.

Nine-year veteran Adams, signed to replace Brian Dawkins, made every start and broke up 12 passes. He's a forceful run defender who's neither fast nor fluid, and at 5' 10'' struggles against tight ends. Adams, 32, entered the NFL as an undrafted signee of the 49ers.

Moore, a second-round reach pick of Elway's two years ago, had a wobbly rookie season but improved last year as a 15-game starter. Then came disaster: a misread of Joe Flacco’s desperate heave that went for a 70-yard touchdown, crucial to Baltimore's playoff upset at Denver.

The Broncos are sticking by Moore, 23.

Behind Adams is Quinton Carter, a 10-game starter in 2011 who had two knee surgeries last year.